How to Increase Your Metabolism

by admin on 5:32 PM

Our metabolisms take a lot of stick when it comes to weight loss, and in many instances, our metabolisms take the complete blame for us not being able to lose weight. This article will show you how toincrease your metabolism and prevent that unwanted weight gain!

Yet while it is true that your basal metabolic rate (the rate at which your body uses energy) can influence your ability to lose weight, there are a few external elements which can affect your metabolism and cause it to slow down.

Learn How to Increase Your Metabolism By Managing These Seven Triggers

Take for instance these 7 common triggers. Any one of these may be hindering your weight loss without you realizing it:

Age – as you get older your energy diminishes, your muscle mass falls and ultimately your metabolism slows. Yet you don’t have to live this way. It is possible to stop aging from adding on the pounds of fat. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, anyone over the age of 65 years old is recommended to do at least 2 ½ hours of moderate-intensity exercise every week, while also doing strengthening exercises on all their major muscle groups at least twice a week.

Stress – we all suffer from it, but prolonged stress can lead to weight gain due to the cortisol your body produces. By learning how to calm yourself down and control the triggers of stress, you can make it easier to maintain a healthier weight. Check out this article to learn about stress relief techniques.

Lack of sleep – numerous studies have linked sleep deprivation to weight gain due to its ability to increase your appetite. Known to affect your insulin levels (which in turn influences your appetite), sleeping less than 6-10 hours a day (varies from person to person) can make it harder for your body to digest food leading to weight gain.

Exercise – exercising regularly can do more than boost your calorie burn. Research has found that physical activity can also increase your resting metabolic rate, so even when you are relaxing in front of the TV you are still burning more calories. The best way to increase your metabolism is to increase your strength training (the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you burn). So if you want to learn how to increase your metabolism, start working out!

Medication – some medicines have been known to encourage weight gain that is difficult to shed, including contraception and anti-psychotics for depression. If this is happening to you, speak to your doctor who can recommend a different course of treatment to you.

Weather changes – strange we know, but there is evidence which suggests cold temperatures can boost your metabolism in an attempt to keep you warm. Please note: this trigger can be influenced by your mood and can have the opposite effect.

Illness – certain thyroid conditions can cause your bodily functions to slow down and trigger weight gain. Fortunately many of these can be treated by speaking to your doctor. They can then diagnose and recommend a course of treatment.

Any one of these 7 triggers may unnecessarily be slowing down your metabolism and making it difficult for you to lose weight. However, learn how to address them and you can give your weight loss the jump start it needs and you can start to increase your metabolism. All you need to do is recognize which of these triggers is affecting you and combat it. By focusing on these 7 triggers, you will learn how to increase your metabolism.